Not enough with the bulk of policemen recruited since 2002 under Centre sponsored Modernization of Police Schemes in Manipur, state government has decided to recruit 1350 Special Police Officers (SPOs) for manning the shortage manpower in 45 police stations across the insurgency infested four valley districts.
Official source said, government is under process to recruit 1350 SPOs in addition to already recruited 300 SPOs for Heirok village of Thoubal district and under process 200 SPOs for Lilong Chajing of Imphal west district to assist policemen in the local police stations located in the valley areas. Manipur is currently implementing a Rs. 248 crores action plan for reduction of violence in the state. An entirely Central government funded initiative, crucial components of the plan include recruitment of 1,640 police personnel, including 404 in the intelligence branch of the state police and 1,197 in the district police units.
Between 2002 and 2005, Manipur recruited just 823 constables and 10 sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors. The bulk of the constable’s appointments (821 out of 823) were done in 2005.
Manipur police chief in October last had proposed appointment of 3500 SPOs for four valley district in addition to already recruited 300 SPOs for guarding the Heirok village in Thoubal district, who confronted with militants after three villagers including two girls were killed in an indiscriminating firing by the cadres of the banned People Revolutionary Army of Kangleipak (PREPAK) during holy festival in March last year.
Government is in hectic progress in development of barracks of the SPOs who completed basic training on use of simple weapons. But the recruitment of 200 more SPOs for the Lilong Chajing village which the state government decided to recruit is yet to commence following strong protest by various civil and human rights bodies.
Manipur government as per proposal put forward by the state police chief on October last year requested the Union ministry of home affairs for approval to the recruitment of 1350 SPOs for deployment in the 45 police stations across the valley districts with 30 each in each police station.
The ministry approved the proposal on December 17 last year but with the condition that the deployment should be a period of one year and till the filling up of the regular vacancies in the police stations, the official said.
MHA, however, agreed to the reimbursement of expenditure incurred in the payment of remuneration of the SPOs at the rate of Rs.500 under the security related expenditure scheme of the Centre against the government decision of payment of Rs 3000 per month.
But, the MHA intimation, further mention that the question of enhancement of the remuneration from Rs 500 to Rs 3000 per month will be considered separately in consultant with the integrated finance division/ministry of finance.
The SPOs recruited for Heirok are being paid at the rate of Rs.3000 per month based on the state cabinet decision.
As per the guideline given by the MHA, the SPOs are to be selected from the insurgency-affected districts through a committee consisting of representatives of the state police (DIG) SIB and CRPF or BSF.